Cynwyd Scrap book 1 Discovering Old Welsh Houses Denbighshire Branch 2014 ©Dating Old Welsh Houses Group October 2014 2 Contents FOREWORD................................................................................................................4 Mills and Houses of Cynwyd..................................................................................7 The Lime Quarry at Hafod y Calch.......................................................................12 Cryniarth Rescued for Posterity!............................................................................14 “THERE‘S NO SENSE IN IT!” ..............................................................................17 5. The Mysteries of Cymer.......................................................................................24 6. CYNWYD WAR MEMORIAL............................................................................31 7. Blaengwnodl Uchaf Memories...........................................................................36 9. Cynwyd and local newspaper reports relating to those in service 1914- 1919...............................................................................................................................46 9. ABSENT Voters – Parish of Llangar 1918-1920...............................................50 l0. Colomendy Memeories.......................................................................................58 12. Who do you think they are ?.............................................................................60 13. A Cynwyd Timeline...........................................................................................61 3 1. FOREWORD Dating Old Welsh Houses Group In google if you persevere and get past the dating websites, you will come across the above site, and I would like to think your curiosity will make you click on it, because if you do you will find a treasure trove of research on work carried out by the members of this group. Since April 2012 the Dating Old Welsh Houses Group, a community heritage charity with around 100 members, has been investigating the development of pre 1700 Welsh houses by focusing on: * Building recording, archaeology and architecture * The study of the landscape, community, economic and social history of the period * House/family history & other research on a range of topics through lectures, events, visits & study tours * Widely publicising results online, through leaflets & a quarterly Newsletter * Branch-led activities in Anglesey & Caernarfonshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, & Merionethshire. The Denbighshire branch, is encouraging our members to research their own houses, other houses which have been identified as ‘old’, [effectively meaning the history of the families who have lived in these houses, [and even to the family’s pre and post occupation]. Also we are looking at land ownership, and we will also research any other area which broadly fits in with the aims of the group. So some are currently in conjunction with the National Library of Wales on land ownership from the tithe maps, with members transcribing schedules for Llandrillo, Llangar, Corwen, and eventually Gwyddelwern, but focussing on Edeyrnion first, [but hoping to roll out this project to cover a wider area]. And the fun bit is colouring in copies of the tithe maps to show holdings and ownership. Other members are looking at the history their own houses, with one near Ruthin, one at Llangar, one in Cynwyd and another in Glyndyrfrdwy, one in Corwen. 4 We usually meet together once a month, either at Rhug or members houses to review progress, resolve problems or often just to generally chat – we are a pretty laid back bunch. So if you fancy something different do look at our website, www.discoveringoldwelshhouses.co.uk, This publication is part of the Denbighshire Branch group activities. Though we have been concentrating on researching old houses in Denbighshire, we also came across other items of interest, which we felt needed a wider audi- ence – hence this scrapbook. We would welcome your feedback on what we have produced Acknowledgements We would like to thank all those people who have contributed to this publica- tion Cover Picture – the 17th century bridge over the river Dee at Cynwyd ©Dating Old Welsh Houses Group October 2014 NOTE: 2017. The trustees decided that subsequently to this publication, to change the word ‘Dating’ to ‘Discovering’ 5 6 1. Mills and Houses of Cynwyd In the 1800s, there were originally 13 mills in Cynwyd on the river Trystion. Around six of these had large water wheels. Most were small cottage industries run by one family, but one or two were larger ‘factory’ mills employing several people. There was a mill called Pen y Felin further up the hill from Felin Uchaf. There is no record as to where it was located although there is a cottage called by the same name but away from the river. This may have been associated with a small mill. The first known location for a mill is Felin Uchaf. Next to this mill and further down towards the village was a small corn mill, where the Water Board building is now. Closer to the village was Yr Hen Felin, the glove factory, and on the opposite side of the river was Glan Aber, another smaller woollen mill. Below Glan Aber was Minafon, a corn mill. Across the old bridge was a very small, family run corn mill, Ty Dwr, where the old mill race can still be seen. Further on down again was a sawmill, where the offices were built for the Ifor Williams factory. The next mill was also a sawmill called Pandybudr, meaning ‘muddy fulling’ place. The last know mill on the river Trystion was a corn mill, Felin Isaf, owned by the miller Edward Jones. It is now owned by Ifor and Marian Williams. Bridge House was used in the washing and dying of fleeces for the woollen factory. The original Court House still stands next to the 1902 bridge across the river 7 The original Court House still stands next to the 1902 bridge across the river Trystion. The old smithy is still in Cynwyd just down from the shop, now owned by Ifor Williams and the old Cocoa House, Pig y Bont, is still occupied. Although one of the tithe barns was taken down for a road widening project in the 1990s, the small holding, Tyn y Berth, of which the tithe barn was part, still stands and is still used as a small holding. Until the Tithe War in 1891, a tenth of all produce from local industry or farming the land had to be paid as a tithe to the church. This generally disliked tax was changed to a ‘tithe rent’ until 1936 when all tithes were abolished and other forms of taxation introduced. The main occupations in Cynwyd during the eighteen and early nineteen hundreds were fullers, spinners, weavers dress makers and tailors. Farmhands, servants and labourers mostly on the farms. In the village there would have been slaters, stonemasons, blacksmiths and coopers, wheelwrights and cobbler. The shop trades included bakers, a fishmonger and general store holding. Other employment included basket makers, straw makers and limers or lime makers. PEN Y FELIN Neither the exact location nor the use of this mill is known. FELIN UCHAF Felin Uchaf was originally a corn threshing mill. This produced bran for feeding livestock and for flour. It was a relatively large mill as the force from the 60 foot high waterfall created enough power to turn a large wheel. People from local farms brought their corn to be milled here. There was originally a right of way all the way up from the village to Felin Uchaf, along the river In the 1970-1980 there was hippy commune here. They created their own electricity by using the force of the water coming of the falls to turn several small turbines. In the later years Gwyn and Nan Jones have restored the house 8 but not all of the mill, although the mill race is now complete. It is now a small caravan site. Nothing much is known about the small mill originally on the site of the water board building. It was probably a small family run corn mill. YR HEN FELIN This was built in 1840 as a woollen mill. Fleeces were purchased locally and treated and dyed before being carded, spun and woven into flannel at Yr Hen Felin. In 1851 records show there were six men and two boys employed full time at the mill. There may have been more children as young as five years old working up to twelve hours a day here, until the late 1800s, when legislation stopped young children working and restricted the working hours for older children. All the workers here were paid in tokens, which had to be spent in the mill owners shop which was situated at the entrance to Princes Yard. This is now the dwelling know as Gwyndy Cottage. The woven flannel and other manufactured goods - gloves, shawls etc, were sent by horse and cart (later the railway) to Barmouth, were it was taken by boat to other ports in Britain. Later the railways would have taken the cloth all over the UK as well as for export. The fleeces were taken by donkey to Bridge House for cleaning and then brought back via Bron y Glyn, by horse and cart for dying and drying. The dying shed being a wooden building at the back of the mill. There was a right of way wide enough for donkeys, up the side of Porth y Dwr up through what was an orchard (now the garden of Ballina) along the wall of the pottery and on to Bron y Glyn. Horse and carts were too wide for this route but came up Waterfall Road to Bron y Glyn, then down a cart track which is now part of Bron y Glyn’s garden, to the mill. From there the carts went out of Princes Yard past Gwyndy Cottage (the mill shop). This was operated in a one way system. The centre of Princes Yard was pasture for the horses. The wool and flannel woven here was known as some of the finest to be made in North Wales. In 1900 the mill was closed and it was sold for £600 and converted into a cheese factory. In 1932 it was given to the Youth Hostel Association and used as a hostel until 2004, when it was purchased Northampton Scouts turned into an outdoor activity centre and a scout hostel.